Sound reproducing or recording apparatus



"Mays, 1931. I F. H. OWENS 1,803,403

SOUND REPRODUCING OR RECORDING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 25, 1935'G fmy Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEMAN H. OWENS,

or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOUND REPRODUOING OR RECORDING APPARATUS Application filed September 25,1926; Serial No. 137,713. Renewed August 11, 1930.

My invention relates broadly to sound reproducing or recording apparatusand more particularly to a film apparatus for the reproduction of soundor the making of sound.

One ofthe objects of my invention is to provide a readily portable.talking film apparatus which may be appliedto a standard phonograph foroperation thereby for the electrical reproduction of sound records pre-3 pared on a film.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide a readily portableconstruction of sound reproducing apparatus arranged to be driven by theusual phonograph by the attachment 31* thereof inlieu of the usualrecord table of a phonograph.

Another object of my invention is to provide a compact assembly of filmapparatus, projector and photo-electric system which may be driven bymotive power derived from the usual phonograph for the convenientreproduction of film records in the home.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a sound recordingapparatus by which sou'ndrecords may be conveniently made with the usualphonograph as the driving equipment. v l 7 Other andfurther objects ofmy invention will be understood from the specification hereinafterfollowing by reference to the ac companying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a phonograph equipped with the filmmoving apparatus of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View showing thearrangement of the film moving apparatus of my invention; Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the film moving apparatus with parts partially incross section on line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional viewof a part of the film moving apparatus on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

V Heretofore in the art the reproduction of sound from film records hasbeen impracticable in the home by reason of the lack of suitableapparatus. I have devised the apparatusof the present invention toprovide a convenient means for the reproduction of sound records, whichhave been recorded on film, in the home.

The apparatus comprises a frame structure carrying a reel mechanism, anoptical system and a photo-electric cell which cell is influenced byvariation in light received from the optical system. by the passage ofthe film record between the optical system and the photo-electric cell,the motive power for actuating the reel mechanism being obtamed from theusual phonograph in the home. The separate sound record is so an rangedon the film that rewinding of the reel mechanism is unnecessary, in thatthe optical system may be arranged tocooperate with the sound record onone portion of the film while the film is being driven in one directionwhile cooperating with the other sound record when the film is beingdriven in the reverse direction. The arrangement of parts of theapparatus by which the com venience in operation of the soundreproducmgapparatus is obta ned will be more clear- -ly understood by reference tothe accompany 111g drawings in detail. a

V In the drawings reference character 1 designates a phonograph havingthe usual tone arm 2 and sound reproducer 3. 'The top of the phonographis designated at 4, with record tableremoved and the tone arm shiftedout of actuating position to permit the attachment of the apparatus ofmy invention to the phonograph. Reference character 5 designatesgenerally the driving motorbeneath the top 4 of thephonographforimparting rotary motion to a shaft 6 which projects abovethe top 45 as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. a I

A combined coupling member and drive pulley wheel 8 is detachablysecured to the extremity of shaft 6 and to the shaft 6a of. the'sprocketwheel? journaled in a frame-9. The frame 9 consists of open skeletonside to members defining a polygonal shapedou'tline. Jo'ur'naled'adjacent the sides of the frame structure 91 provide idler pulleymembore 10, 11,12 and 13 over whichlthe film 16 passes in the course ofits travel between reels 14: and 15. The reel 14 is positively driven bya belt connection 17 from the drive pulley 8 to the driven pulley 18keyed to the shaft of reel 14 The film 16 is apertured along its centralline to enable the sprocket Wheel 7 having a centrally arranged row ofteeth to mesh with corresponding apertures in the film for advancing thefilm at uniform speed. On opposite sides of the centrally arranged lineof apertures or perforations the sound records 19 and 20 are recorded,as indicated in Fig. at. The direction of the sound records is oppositeeach other so that rewinding of the film is not neces try and it is onlyrequired that the position of reels 1 1 a d 15 be reversed and the filmoperated in the opposite direction from that of the initial run forreproducing both of the sound records independently.

Supported on the frame structure 9 I provide an optical systemcomprising a lamp housing 21, lens 22 and the optical slit 28 focuse lto direct light rays upon a light sensitive element disposed incartridge 2%. The light sensitive element or photo-electric cell is thussubjected to varying light rays in accordance With the sound records 19and 20 on film 16. Conductors leading from opposite terminals of thephoto-electric cell connect through a suitable amplifying system with aloud speaker for the reproduction of sound in accordance With the recordrecorded on the film. The amplification equipment and loud speaker maybe conveniently housed in the cabinet of the phonograph and connectionsestablished from the photo-electric cell system to the input circuit ofthe amplifier.

In order to control the speed of the driving apparatus 5 I provide theusual type of governor whereby the film 16 may be uniformly advancedwith respect to the optical system and light sensitive element.- Thecompact arrangement of the apparatus permits convenient installation ofthe equipment in the home. The interchange of film records is extremelysimple, by merely placing the film reels upon the frame structure andthreading up the film with respect to the sprocket Wheel 7 and idlerrollers 10, 11, 12 and 13.

To convert the apparatus into a recorder instead of a reproducer arecording lamp may be positioned in the lamp housing 21 and acted uponby sound vibrations for the preparation of the film record.

lVhile I have described my invent-ion in one of its preferredembodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may hemade and that no limitations upon the invent-ion are intended other thanare imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure hy Letters Patent of theUnited States is as follows 1 l. A sound reproducing apparatus forattachment to the driving shaft of a phonegraph comprising a framestructure arranged to be mounted upon the top of a phonograph to form aunitary structure therewith, a sprocket journaled in said framestructure and arranged to establish driving connection with the shaft ofsaid photograph, a pair of film carrying reels rotatably carried by saidframe structure, a plurality of idler rollers for guiding said film in apath of travel over said sprocket, a light projecting system carried bysaid frame structure on one side of said film, a light sensitive elementcarried by said frame structure on the opposite side of said filmwhereby the effect of light rays upon said light sensitive element maybe controlled a sound record on said film, and means on said framestructure for engaging the top of the'phonograph.

2. An apparatus for the reproduction of sound comprising an attachmentfor the drive shaft of phonographs, said. attachment including a framestructure arranged to be mounted upon the top of a phonograph to form aunitary structure therewith, a sprocl-:- ct Wheel journaled in saidframe structure and arranged to he rotata-bly driven from the driveshaft of said phonograph, a film carrying mechanism, means for guidingsaid film in a path of travel around said frame structure and over saidsprocket wheel, a light projecting system carried by said framestructure on one side of said film, a light sensitive element supportedfrom said frame structure on the opposite side of said film andsurrounded by said film in the course of the travel thereof through saidfilm carr ing mechanism, said film carrying a sound record thereon forvarying the efiect of said light )lOjQCtiilg system upon said lightsensitive element in accordance With said sound record, and means onsaid frame structure for supporting said frame structure above the topof the phonograph.

3. In a sound reproducing apparatus for attachment to the drive shaft ofa phonograph, a polygonal shaped frame structure arranged to be mountedupon the top of a phonograph, a sprocket Wheel journaled centrally insaid frame structure and arranger: to be driven from the drive shaft ofsaid phonograph, a film having a sound record thereon, a film carryingreel mechanism rotatably carried by said frame structure and arranged tobe driven from the drive shaft of said phonograph, idler pulleys carriedby said frame structure for directing said film over said sprocketwheel, a light projecting system, a light sensitive clement carried bysaid frame structure and disposed between parallel extending portions ofsaid film, in the course of its travel through said reel mechanism, thsound record on said film operating to vary the effect of said lightprojecting system upon said light sensitive element in accordance withthe sound record on said film, and means on said frame structure forsupporting said frame structure over the top of the phonograph.

%. An apparatus for the reproduction of sound for attachment to thedrive shaft of a phonograph comprising a frame structure arranged to bemounted on the top of a phonograph, a sprocket wheel journaled centrallyin said frame structure, supply and take-up reels carrying filin havinga sound record thereon, said reels being rotatably mounted on said framestructure, means for driving one of said reels from the drive shaft ofsaid phonograph, a plurality of idler rollers carried by said framestructure for guiding said film over said sprocket wheel, a lightdirecting system, a light sensitive element carried by said framestructure and disposed between parallel extending portions of said filmduring the course of travel of said film over said sprocket wheelswhereby the sound record on said film controls the effect of the lightrays from said light directingsystem upon said light sensitive element,andmeans on said frame structure for engaging the top of the phonograph.

5. An apparatus for the reproduction of sound for attachment to thedrive shaft of a phonograph comprising a polygonally shaped framestructure arranged to be mounted on the top of a phonograph, a sprocketwheel journaled centrally in said frame structure, a film carryingmechanism supported by said frame structure, a plurality of idlerrollers positioned around the peripheral edges of said frame structurefor guiding said film over said sprocket wheel, a light sensitiveelement carried by said frame structure in a position between two sidesof said frame structure, and a light projecting system carried by oneside of said a frame structure, said film passing between said lightprojecting system and said light sensitive element, a sound recorddisposed on said film whereby the effect of the light rays from saidlight projecting system upon said light sensitive element may becontrolled in accordance with said sound record in the course of thetravel of said film.

6. In combination, a phonograph having a substantially horizontalsupport, a drive shaft passing through an aperture in said support, aframe structure arranged to be mounted on top of said support andcarrying a film moving mechanism, a source of light and a lightsensitive element, said light source and said element being so disposedon said frame structure relative to the film that light from said sourcemay pass through the film to said element; and coupling means betweensaid drive shaft and said film moving mechanism. p

7. In combination, a phonograph having a substantially horizontalmember, a. drive shaft passing through an aperture in said member, aframe structure removably secured to the top of said member, said framestructure having rotatably mounted therein a sprocket, a pair of filmcarrying reels and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the film ina path of travel over said sprocket, a source of light and a lightsensitive device carried by said frame structure and disposed onopposite sides of the film, and coupling means between said drive shaftand said sprocket.

8. A sound reproducing apparatus for attachment to a phonograph, saidphonograph having a substantially horizontal support and a drive shaftpassing through an aperture in said support, comprising a frame lift"

